Cambium
AI-driven advanced materials company designing novel polymers and composites for defense, aerospace, and high-performance applications
- CEO / Founder
- Simon Waddington
- Team Size
- 51-200
- Stage
- Growth Stage
- Total Funding
- $127M
- Latest Round
- Series B
- Key Investors
- 8VC; Lockheed Martin Ventures; MVP Ventures; Veteran Ventures Capital; GSBackers; J17 Ventures; Vanderbilt University; Alumni Ventures; Gaingels; Inevitable Ventures; JACS Capital; Jackson Moses; Marlinspike; Kern Venture Fund; Vertical Capital
Technology & Products
Key Products
ApexShield 1000 (high-temperature resin for rocket motor seals); ApexShield 3000 (phthalonitrile coating for hypersonic/thermal protection); Thermal Protection Systems (TPS); High Temperature Structural Materials; Laser & Directed Energy Protection; composite prepregs (via SHD subsidiary); bio-based fire-resistant composite materials
Technological Advantage
AI-driven computational platform for novel monomer/polymer discovery; vertically integrated from molecule design to composite manufacturing; bio-based chemistry enabling new material properties; US-based secure supply chain for defense applications
Differentiation
Value Proposition
AI-driven materials discovery platform that designs novel monomers and polymers faster than traditional methods, combined with vertically integrated manufacturing from molecular design to certified production
How They Differentiate
Uses AI/ML-driven molecular discovery (borrowing pharma drug-discovery methods) to create entirely new polymers rather than reformulating existing petrochemical-based materials; vertically integrated from computational discovery through pilot-scale manufacturing and testing; bio-based chemistry for defense-grade performance
Market & Competition
Target Customers
US Department of Defense, aerospace prime contractors (Lockheed Martin), defense tech startups, commercial aerospace, space launch providers, automotive/motorsport, marine, industrial high-temperature applications
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense; Space; Hypersonics; Automotive/Motorsport; Marine; Industrial
Competitors
Mycoworks; MetaShield; traditional advanced materials suppliers (Hexcel, Solvay, Toray)
Growth & Milestones
Major Milestones
Founded 2019 (incorporated May 13, 2019); $8M Seed round (2021); $19M Series A led by 8VC (Dec 2023); Acquisition of SHD Group, global composites manufacturer (Dec 2025); $100M Series B led by 8VC (Jan 2026); High-temperature material launched into space on USCRPL Daybreak rocket (May 2026); Launch of ApexShield 3000 coating (June 2026)
Notable Customers
US Department of Defense; US Navy; Lockheed Martin; University of Southern California Rocket Propulsion Laboratory (USCRPL)